With so many essentials for babies to consider, a top cot bed is one of the most important purchases. We've created this guide to help you choose the right bed for your baby.
A high-quality bed that is perfect for nursery spaces that are reminiscent of Scandi. It's a durable and sturdy choice that can grow with your child, with three mattress height positions as well as the ability to remove the sides for a stylish bench-style toddler bed.
Budget
There is a cot for every nursery and budget. There are a myriad of choices that come with different durations some of which can be converted into toddler beds to be used in the age of preschool or beyond. The ones that can be turned into a bed are more expensive, but they will last longer.
The Mamas Papas Coxley was our overall winner thanks to its stunning design and easy-to-assemble design. It's a great choice for those who want a top quality cot that will stand up to the test of time. This model's minimalist design and warm-toned finish will look great in a Scandi nursery. The cot bed has a drawer that mum tester Katrina considered to be a better choice than some cheaper cots which have a drawer built in. It also comes with an anti-bite strip on the top rails of the cot to stop your child's teeth from getting caught. This cot bed is not expensive, and requires an Allen key for setup.
The cot for the Elementary is a more affordable option that can give your baby a good night's sleep. It's part of the range called Anyday by John Lewis. The easy design and simple assembly were highly praised by our parents who tested it. The cot is compact when folded and can be put away away easily too, fitting into a carry bag that's about the size of a camp chair's carry case. It's on the lightweight side and therefore may not be ideal for camping in the car however it's suitable to live in apartments or for those who don't plan to move their cot around all the time.
The SnuzKot is a good budget-friendly cot that we recommend particularly if you decide to purchase the toddler kit and mattress extender (sold separately). It will grow with your baby until they reach around four years old. Our father tester liked the possibility of converting it into a minimalist toddler bed, and created the feeling of a cocoon with its canopy made of fabric.
Safety
A cot that is safe and sturdy is not just required to meet the strict UK safety standards, but it should also be sturdy and feel secure. Choose a sturdy design with bars of safety or sides, and a solid foundation so that your baby cannot easily move out. Some cots include extra features such as teething rails, or drawers for under-bed storage that can aid in keeping your baby organized as your baby grows.
Parent test subject Becki says that her Boori cot "has endured through 3 kids and still looks amazing." Its classic design will suit most homes and it's made from sustainably sourced Australian Araucaria and New Zealand Radiata wood, so you can feel good about the purchase. It can be transformed from a cot to a toddler bed by leaving three sides open for safety. There is also an extension kit that will take it up to a full-sized bed when your child is ready.
This stylish but simple cot is a great choice for those with a tight budget. It is easy to assemble with clearly marked components and clear instructions. It comes with three mattress height settings, so you can alter the height as your baby grows. It will fit on any standard cot mattress and is a great buy for the price.
If you're looking for a premium cot, this is a great choice. It can be used as a cot and has four mattress positions. It'll last your baby until they are about three years old. It folds up and has wheels that lock, making it easy to move it from one room to another.
This cot is light at only 6kg and comes with a great bag for travel. It is also very robust, with strong frame that can be able to withstand the rigors of toddlers. The instructions were well written and clear, but our testers found the assembly to be a little difficult. They also noted that the slats were spaced sufficiently apart to avoid fingers getting caught in between them. It's also a bit more expensive than some of the other cots we reviewed however, it's worth the price for its longevity and practicality.
Design
It's easy to overlook the style when purchasing a cot-bed. It is essential to choose the cot bed that is both functional and beautiful.
The ickle bubba Snowdon Classic Bed is the best bed for those who appreciate design with its sleek, modern version of the traditional sleigh design that doesn't have the bulky feeling that these types of beds often feature. It has plenty of space-saving storage and storage options, including the drawer that is built into the cot and teething rails on the side. Our mother tester found it to be sturdy and robust and has three positions of base height that allows the bed to expand with your child.
Alternately alternatively, the Modena cot bed from Tutti Bambini offers excellent value for money. It also has an elegant panel design that will look great in any nursery. It's designed to be used until your child is six years old, and then it transforms first into a junior bed and then into a stylish sofa bed. It's also among the only a few cot beds that we have tested with an apex drawer, a teething rail, and a hanging rail.
Another option with a sleek panelled design is the Stokke Sleepie Cot Bed, which comes in a variety of color options to fit the decor of your nursery. Our mom testers loved its nifty features, with the drawer for storage being particularly useful for storing bedding and clothing. It is also one of the easiest cot bed to put together. The pieces are clearly labeled, and the directions are easy to follow. It's also a great option for those with limited space, since it can be folded down and then flat-packed. It takes the standard cot mattress (140cm 70cm x 140cm) and is suitable from the time of birth until toddlerhood, with an extension kit that permits it to be used up until your child is 10 years old. of age.
Convertability
When you're a new parent, there are plenty of baby must-haves to consider. One of the most important is a good quality cot bed - you need something that will last for as long as you can and will grow with your child to provide them a safe and comfortable place to sleep.
While most cots can be converted into toddler beds by the purchase of a conversion kit, some cot beds are designed to go further than this. The Boori Eton Cot Bed is our top pick. It converts into an infant (L207cm, W147cm H90cm) as well as it can also be used as a daybed (L234cm, W145cm and H70cm) and sofa (L234cm, W145cm, and H70cm). This makes it our most durable choice that will last your child from birth until the age of.
It's not cheap when compared to other cot beds we've tested, but it has an elegant look and feel that will suit any nursery. The instructions could be more clear, but our parent testers were impressed by how easy it was for to construct and set up. This is a minor flaw, though, considering it was a breeze and took less than 30 minutes to complete.
Another impressive characteristic of this cot is that it has four mattress base heights which is an upgrade on the three standard options. This gives you the flexibility to adjust it as your child gets older, because they might require a higher or lower base level, based on their age and abilities. It also comes with teething rails and a strip on the top to shield it from being bitten.
This cot comes in several different Scandi-inspired finishes, and our dad tester was especially impressed by the grey finish. It's not cheap, but it's a the best value for money since it will last your child until they reach toddlerhood and beyond. It also comes with an one-year guarantee which gives you peace of mind that it will be sturdy and long-lasting. The only thing that you'll need to purchase separately is the mattress.
